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The Five Hour Mystery

Wednesday, May 02, 2007
the five hour mystery
The Five Hour Mystery

Airs during Evening Music at 7PM on 93.9 FM
A lot of people are afraid to attend a five-hour opera. It sounds too long, too boring, and what if you fall asleep? Won't people think you're rude? As it turns out, lots of people fall asleep during Tristan, sometimes at the most inconvenient moments. Even opera star Ben Heppner once fell asleep during Tristan—while performing it, no less—and we hear that story from the tenor himself. Also, anthropologist Dr. John Forrest explains why especially long performances can create dramatic psychological and physiological reactions in the audience (with surprising results).


Comments

  • [1] Richard from Astoria May 02, 2007 - 07:50PM

    I go to the Met sometimes but never went to Wagner because I thought it would be boring. You changed my mind about that (thank you wnyc!). That stuff about Anton Sidle(sp?) brought tears to my eyes. wonderful.
  • [2] Kenneth Bennett Lane from www.WagnerOpera.com May 03, 2007 - 01:22AM

    I have sung at Carnegie Hall's Main Auditorium (Stern) 4 solo concerts, including 2 All-Wagner concerts, singing arias from all the heldentenor roles, 33 complete downloadable selections from my website [url removed]

    Of all the Tristan recordings commercially available, Melchior's four complete Tristan recordings with Flagstad (1936,Fritz Reinder), (1937, Sir Thomas Beecham), (1937, Artur Bodansky), (and 1941, Erich Leinsdorf) Bodansky's is the most excitingly sung and conducted. Might you be able to include the Liebesnacht of that recording on your series? I could lend you my copy.

    Kenneth Bennett Lane, Wagnerian heldentenor

    Director, Richard Wagner Institute

    Festspielhaus of Boonton

    [address/phone number removed]
  • [3] Vicky Go from NJ May 03, 2007 - 03:00PM

    I was driving home when I heard the lady's account of having the BIG O right at the MET (or was it Avery Fisher Hall) during the Liebestod & I burst out laughing! I thought to myself, that might be the reason you chose not to play the complete Liebestod! For the safety of your commuter audience! I was feeling frustrated because these bits & pieces of the Liebestod were like teasers. I think the Liebestod is the sexiest, most romantic piece of music ever - and i get transported, though not quite to THAT level when I listen to it - up to that last crashing chord & the slowly dieying away & then silence - WHEW!!!

    Thanks WNYC & NPR for the Tristan Mysteries!

    VG


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